NEW YORK — There is an undeniable sense of cosmic inevitability surrounding “MY GHOSTS,” the spellbinding new gothic musical written by the husband-and-wife creative duo David and Erica Elsa Laros. In the theatrical world, the journey from page to a major New York stage is notoriously grueling, often taking a decade of stalled momentum. Yet for this dark musical comedy, the trajectory has been a lightning-fast, uninterrupted series of green lights.
This summer, the phenomenon reaches its spectacular peak. Laros Theatre has officially announced that “MY GHOSTS” will make its highly anticipated Off-Broadway debut as a marquee mainstage selection of the inaugural Diamond Mesh ManiFestival, running from July 16 through August 9, 2026.
For a production that has spent years evolving through elite industry circles, this strictly limited engagement at the Paradise Factory Theatre (August 3, 4, and 8 at 3:30 p.m.) marks the triumphant arrival of a singular independent theater triumph.
The Evolution: Rhode Island, Manhattan, and Channel Indie TV
To fully appreciate the gravity of this Off-Broadway debut, one must look at the grassroots momentum that built the foundation. The piece was forged in its earliest iteration as an intimate, experimental workshop production in Rhode Island, where the core musical vocabulary and narrative structure were first tested in front of live audiences.
Recognizing the undeniable potential of the material, the creators quickly brought the piece to Manhattan, transitioning the work into a sleek, high-profile cabaret and industry presentation. It was here that the show caught the attention of New York’s cultural tastemakers. The buzz intensified significantly when “MY GHOSTS” caught the eye of digital broadcasters, securing a prominent feature on Channel Indie TV, which broadcasted the show’s distinctive gothic flair and musical brilliance to a rapidly expanding, global digital audience.
Now, backed by an elite creative team and a swell of underground support, the show transitions from an indie darling into a full-scale Off-Broadway production.
The Script: Battling the Literary Icons of the Mind
“MY GHOSTS” centers on acclaimed writer Cab Curio as he confronts his most persistent, suffocating “inner critics”—which manifest literally on stage as the ghosts of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and the mythical early-modern actor Jack Wilson.
Racing against a ticking clock to rediscover his creative identity, Curio is thrown a lifeline by Lenore, a mysterious, ethereal ghost inhabiting a local clocktower. What follows is an inventive, fantastical, and darkly funny exploration of artistic anxiety, isolation, and the intoxicating power of imagination.
The pedigree of the writing team infuses the script with an eccentric, deeply authentic texture:
- Erica Elsa Laros (Book): A celebrated poet, visual artist, and New York Times-published obituary writer, bringing a beautifully poignant, comfortable relationship with death and legacy to the libretto.
- David Laros (Music & Lyrics): An international piano entertainer, composer, and director whose soaring melodies and sharp lyricism give the narrative its driving, rhythmic heartbeat.
In a beautifully poetic piece of scheduling, the presentation of “MY GHOSTS” is timed to directly coincide with the birthday celebration of the legendary Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley—husband of Frankenstein creator Mary Shelley—perfectly mirroring the show’s rich gothic romance roots.
“Everything about ‘MY GHOSTS’ has been green light—green light—green light,” reflects lyricist and book writer Erica Elsa Laros. “The music flowed effortlessly after the idea. I had a recurring dream about ManiFestival before it happened, then the universe breathed life right into the script. Watching my story of the artist and the inner critics come alive on stage, I feel like I am literally watching my own story play out about the crushing nature of self-criticism and how it can be changed.”
The ManiFestival: A Haven for Artistic Connection
The Off-Broadway staging of “MY GHOSTS” is made possible through its alignment with the ManiFestival, a bold new-works initiative produced by Diamond Mesh Inc. Theatrical Productions under the leadership of festival directors Matt Bader and Faith Pasch. Conceived as an urgent creative response to modern social and digital isolation, the festival explores heavy, triumphant themes of legacy, addiction, and artistic redemption.
For David Laros, who steps out from the keys to pull double duty as both the show’s composer and a primary performer on the Off-Broadway stage, the festival represents complete artistic alignment.
“‘MY GHOSTS’ has been spiritually guided from the very start,” David Laros notes. “To us, ManiFestival means complete alignment and true authenticity. Growing as an artist means exploring the different parts of the self, and I’ve been able to do that in preparation… not only as composer and lyricist but also as a performer in our musical.”
Performance & Ticket Information
- WHAT: MY GHOSTS (A New Gothic Musical)
- BOOK BY: Erica Elsa Laros | MUSIC & LYRICS BY: David Laros
- WHERE: Paradise Factory Theatre, New York City
- WHEN:
- Monday, August 3, 2026, at 3:30 PM
- Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 3:30 PM
- Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 3:30 PM
- TICKETS
GEORGES: MediaMacabre: a site dedicated to the Macabre in Arts & Entertainment 